Week 3 - The Year There Was No Spring Break

We should be in Hawaii right now getting ready for our luau but sadly we are under a Shelter in Place order from the governor to remain at home. That order was just extended until April 30 and so that means that there will be another 4 weeks of e-learning. I’m going to try not to think about that right now why we are on spring break meaning that this week we are on vacation from e-learning.

On Sunday afternoon, after getting things done around our house at home, we drove up to Michigan to spend a week up here. Tom is still working mornings from here and the kids and I have kept busy reading “The Diary of Anne Frank” as well as participating in online exercise classes to keep their hearts pumping. I’ve given them a bit more iPad time than they would normally have during their e-learning but it’s spring break so why not!

We’re watching a lot of Netflix and Amazon shows as a family and trying to complete a 1000 piece puzzle that we started last summer. Today, we took a beautiful hike through a 3 mile Saugatuck Dune trail. It was hilly and wooded and then the woods opened up to reveal Lake Michigan. We took Sadie and she was so excited to walk the trail but even more excited to climb the dunes and explore the beach/water. I thought she’d dive right into the water but she was a bit of a scaredy-cat cat when the waves broke on the shore. Needless to say she’s sleeping soundly at my feet right now. Only hope the 3 miles and climbing didn’t do her in!

Week 2 of Quarantine/E-Learning

Chutes and Ladders

We're headed into Week 2 of our quarantine and e-learning. My days are certainly busier now trying to manage three kids and their e-learning schedules. Austen is pretty self-sufficient but I need to be 1:1 with Hailey for all of her learning which could take up to 3 hours a day. Peyton still needs her work reviewed too so that takes more time. Plus, I'm troubleshooting Google classrooms and getting my kids logged onto Google meet ups with their teachers. Then it's lunch time. Back to academic time and finally outside for a walk or some form of exercise before making dinner. Yesterday, I did one of my Barre 3 classes with the kids before we walked the dog. It was only 30 minutes and at least I broke a sweat but not my preferred way to work out either.

The only bright side was that on Friday night, we left Illinois to head to Michigan until this morning. That broke up the time and monotony of staying inside a bit. But, Tom's work and the ability for the kids to have more space here while e-learning drew us back to Illinois until our spring break.

Speaking of spring break - we had to cancel Hawaii. The kids were so disappointed but I said we'd reschedule. Just not sure when. Waiting to see if we even have a spring sports season otherwise maybe early summer we'll rebook our trip. At this point, I wouldn't even be sad if all was canceled so we could get away.

On the plus side, it only took me 6 years and the Coronavirus to use my jetted tub. It was amazing. I may have to use it again soon to deal with this e-learning! I also convinced my family to watch the Sound of Music - which none of us had ever seen. After a lot of complaining mostly from Austen, we sat down to watch the 3-hour movie. All of them were pleasantly surprised and really liked it. I guess that's why it's a classic! Hoping to knock a few of my other must dos in 2020 off my list.

We've been playing lots of board games with the family too. We taught Hailey how to play Old Maid and have been enjoying Chutes and Ladders and the Game of Life as well as the tic-tac-toe game we have in Michigan. My kids usually spend a lot of time with us (maybe it's the age, maybe because we demand it) but I'm relishing this time together (aside from the e-learning). Too soon it will be gone and Austen will be off to college, and then we'll be a family of four, and then three and then just two, again.

Hailey must have picked the Old Maid!

Working from Michigan in his corner

A snuggly spot for some e-learning

Back home for a video chat with teacher and classmates

Much needed break and outside activity time/walk with Sadie

Day 2 of E-Learning

What day is it? I don't even know. I guess I should have posted yesterday but I've been busy trying to get my house stocked with food for the week (not the month like some people are doing) and getting my kids on an e-learning schedule.

This COVID-19 virus is real. At first, I was like many others thinking it's not that bad but after sitting at Austen's soccer game last Wednesday night with a large number of his teammates' parents who are all in different medical specialties, I decided that I better start taking this seriously. They were all very worried. Still are. In our community there are so many medical professionals on the front lines of this horrible, horrible virus. They are terrified about what this could mean. Some are doing ICU rotations and worried about being exposed and what they could be bringing home to their own families. So if our medical professionals are terrified and anxious why are so many of us walking around town thinking it won't affect us? If you don't care enough about yourself to do the right thing, please stay home for your families.

This is an unprecedented time. I can only imagine how it must've felt for my aunts to be restricted to their houses in Italy during World War II. My generation has never experienced anything like this. I think soon, we will be restricted in Chicago to our homes as well. Since Sunday, our family has been practicing social distancing and staying home aside from going to the grocery store or walking the dog.

Most people are canceling their spring breaks while others try to capitalize on lower airfares. We will be canceling our trip to Hawaii. My kids are devastated but we can always go to Hawaii. Our lives are more important and the greater good is more important.

Our schools are closed for at least three weeks. We began e-learning on Monday. Sunday night I created a schedule for my kids. I make them get up, get dressed, eat, make their beds and be ready to learn by 9am. Austen and Peyton are set up in our office while Hailey does her e-learning with me in the kitchen/family room. Austen is pretty self sufficient. Peyton needs a little guidance and reviewing of her daily work. Hailey is pretty much hands on for at least 1.5-2 hours a day. I realized yesterday that she needs more breaks than the other two. She can't go a full 1.5 hours without getting up. She's really good but the most I've worked with her is 45 minutes straight before e-learning. Definitely saw her focus waning at 1.5 hours so I adjusted today and she did better. We take breaks walking the dog and playing outside. Today, Austen and I played Foot Pong (a version of soccer) and I beat him! Peyton rode her bike up and down our driveway, Hailey kept score and shot some baskets. Sadie laid on the mulch and got up suddenly to try to chase a squirrel. Luckily, Austen grabbed her harness before she could blow out her other knee!

Tom is still working - sometimes from home (in the basement - I'm running out of space to put people!) and sometimes has a meeting where he tells me they are using social distancing or he's measuring a building by himself. We've told the grandparents we will not be visiting them and don't want them to come over either. This. Shit. Is. Real.

Not sure how long we'll need to be social distanced from everyone but I'm hoping if we all do it then it'll be over that much sooner and we can get back to life as we know it.

Be safe everyone. Oh and enjoy the highlight of our day today - being on the news for e-learning (don't worry, the news studio required six feet of social distancing so we didn't touch and microphones were set on tables in front of us.)

Day Off + Michigan = Tubing

Recently, the kids had a day off of school so what else was there to do but drive to Michigan and use the day to go snow tubing! We found a smaller ski resort called Cannonsburg just south of Grand Rapids that had a magic carpet and some really fun tubing hills.

They allowed you to link tubes so we went down all five of us together too. At first, Peyton and Hailey wouldn't go without one of us but after a few runs and seeing how it was hard to really tip out of the tubes, I decided it was time to push the girls to do this on their own. (Plus, you go faster when you're not tied to someone else's tube.)

So after agreeing to go down with Hailey and Tom, we put Hailey in her tube and I gave it a big kick so it soared down the hill without us. Did I hear terrified screams? Nope, what I heard was shrieks of laughter. (Austen not knowing I was going to do this was heading up the magic carpet with Peyton and was taping this. You can hear Peyton on the video say, "Was that Hailey who just went down by herself?!") This was exactly the push she herself needed to go down on her own so at the top of the hill she bravely put down her tube and inched herself over the edge for her first solo ride of the day. What they both discovered was how much they loved it!

It's tough sometimes being a parent. You have to push your kids. And you have to know when to push them and how much they can handle. But what I've discovered from having kids who are cautious is that they will never try new things by themselves if you don't sometimes give them a little nudge. And then they may never have the opportunity to discover something they really love. This is a daily struggle - especially with Peyton. Hence why her new grown up stencil over her bed reads:

"What If I Fall?"
"Oh My Darling, But What if You Fly?"

I want my kids to fall in love with flying. It's okay to be cautious but sometimes you have to push through that fear and try something you might love. Because you'll sure miss out on life if you play it safe all the time. #No Regrets. 

Sadie Makes it to Age 4!

Sadie celebrated her 4th birthday on Friday in Michigan (kids had the day off of school). I say she made it to age 4 because of the amount of issues this dog has had at such a young age. But, I'm happy to report that as she turns 4 things are going great for her. Her partial tear in her knee has heeled very well. She's able to walk up our steep back steps with minimal assistance. She's been doing longer walks around the block and today we took her to town and back. We are working to strengthen her back legs and so far it's doing wonders as she gains more confidence as well as traction on our hardwood floors.

In fact, the other day I was in the office working and all of a sudden I heard footsteps. She had gotten off the couch in the family room, navigated the single step up to the hardwood floors and gingerly walked down the hallway to the office and happily curled up by my feet! I was so excited! It's the little things that we all take for granted. The fact that she can do that again after months and months is astounding.

So it was a great birthday celebration on Friday honoring Sadie's 4 years. We first let her eat cinnamon rolls and then we took her to Decadent Dogs (dog store) in South Haven to get a treat and a toy. She got lots of walks and love and food! I think she enjoyed her day. I know we all enjoyed spoiling our cute and very cuddly girl.

Sadie in South Haven with a cupcake (Peyton's holding)

Morning cinnamon roll

Found me at my desk!

She tucked herself in for a nap!